Sponge mop and the like



Sept 29, 1953 l. J. NlcoLl 2,653,341

SPONGE MOP AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 11, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheerl l Sept. 29, 1953 l. J. NlcoLl 2,653341 SPONGE MOP AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 11, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,f 56 l m/ 52 Y I ain lzzzezdoz y u Qa-ULM;

toward a said exposed edge.

Patented Sept. 29, 1953 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE SPONGE MOP AND THE LIKE Ida J. Nicoli, Framingham, Mass.

Application February 11, 1950, Serial N o. 143,786

This invention relates to improvements in mops 'and comparable devices for cleaning floors and walls. More particularly it provides improvements in mops and the like wherein la sponge constitutes the cleaning element and a handle is removably secured to the sponge to facilitate movements of the sponge over the surface of a floor or wall which is being cleaned.

Mops of the general type to which the invention relates have been Iavailable heretofore but the manner of removably mounting the sponge on the supporting head of the mop has not been entirely satisfactory, and all of the prior mops of this general type, so far as I am aware, have been open to the objection that rigid parts of the sponge-supporting heads frequently come into scratching or otherwise marring contact with the surface being-cleaned or with an adjacentsurface along whichthe sponge is being moved.

It is among the objects of the present invention `to provide 'a sponge-type mop having irnproved means for effecting removable connection of a sponge to the supporting head of the mop, whereby the sponge'is'more effectively secured to its supporting head and more readily removable and replaceable, as compared with the prior comparable mops of which I am aware. I provide a fabric member which is cemented and/or stitched to the sponge and which has side flaps for folding inward over side flanges of a rigid backing-plate-element of the head,

each side iiap of the fabric member having ar rigid edge-bead thereon adapted to be clamped against the backing-plate element, inside the-side 5 Claims. (Cl. 15-244) flanges of the latter, byY a clamping plate to'.V

which the mop handle is rigidly secured. K

Another object is to provide a sponge-type mop having its sponge removably secured to a rigid backing-plate element of the'rrnopV head and having al1 edge portions of the backingplate element protectively covered, or adapted to become covered in use of the mop, whereby no rigid edges of the backing-plate element can come into scratching or other marring contact with a surface along which the sponge is being moved. According to the invention, a fabric-v member 4is secured'to the sponge and removably! secured to'the backing-plate element, with portions of the fabric member enclosing edges of the backing-plate elementV or extending to Vpositions for protectively covering exposed edges of erally to improve sponge-type mops and more particularly the means for removably securing a sponge to a mop handle.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational View of a sponge-type mop embodying features of the present invention, the major portion of the handle being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the mop of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view `on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. Llis a top plan view of the fabric member to which the sponge is secured, it being spread flat and having portions broken away to eX- .1 posek the rigid rods in the edge pockets of the on line 3--3 of Fig. 2. on a'larger scale, showing one of the beaded side flaps of the fabric member in clamped position and showing the other beaded flap in a position prior to being pressed downward' into position to be engaged by the clamping plate, portions of the clamping plate and handle socket being broken away;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the mop of Fig. 7;

VFig.'9 is a cross-sectional View on line 9-9 of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view on line II-Ill of Fig. 8 but showing a brush yattachment in place on the mop of Figs. 7 and 8.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1-6, a rectangular sponge II) has a Yfabric sheet member I2 cemented or otherwise secured to its upper surface. Preferably,

y the sheet member I2 will beof canvas or duck,

said element when the lsponge yields, in use,

with a marginal portion at each side and veach end folded inward as best seen in Fig. 4s, where the in-folded end'margins are represented at I4, I6 and the in-folded side margins are indicated at I8. 20. The in-folded margins are stitched across the ends of member I2, as at 22, and are stitched along the sides of member I2, as at 24, the stitches at 22 at the ends being relatively close to the fold lines, while the stitches atl 24 along the sides are spaced inward from the fold lines to provide a pocket along each side edge of member I2 within which a relatively rigid rod 26 is enclosed. Actually, the side stitching at 24 may be ldone after a rod' 26 has been; positioned within a folded side margin I8, 20 although, if desired, the side folds `maybe stitched at 24 to provide pockets into which the rods 25 may be inserted endwise, in which` case, the end stitching at 22 will be done subsequently at at least one end of the member l2, so that the rods 26 may be inserted through an open end of each side pocket, after which the open ends of the pockets will be closed by the end stitching at 22. If the stitching at 24 is done while the rods are in place within the marginal folds I8, 28, the end stitching 22 along both ends may be done before stitching along the lines 24.

The sheet member I2 also is folded upon itself' along two parallel lines a little inward of the edges of the infolded side margins i8, 2B and are stitched as at 28, these latter stitched folds determining the width of sheet member I2 which will be in contact with the sponge I0, as best seen in Figs. l, 3 and 6.

A rigid plate 3e has length a little less than the .fabric sheet member i2, and has. upstanding side flanges 322 over which side portions of the fabric member l2 may be turned to bring the enclosed rods 2i?I on the inside of the plate flanges 32. The flanged plate 38 has width slightly less than the width. of fabric. member lf2. between the fold stitches. at 2S, so that its anges ft2 may enter between the two thicknesses of fabric along the irl-folded side margins t8, 28, with the end stitches 22 confining Vthe flanges against endwise movement relative to fabric member i2. and maintaining end portions. of the fabric member i2 in covering relation te the end edges of the flanges.

After the plate flanges 32 have been inserted between the two thicknesses of fabric along the in-foldedside margins t8, 28, rthe enclosed rods 26 are pressed inward and downwardly so as to extend along the inner sides of iianges 32.

A relatively small clamping plate 34 next is secured in place on the rigid. plate element 38, it having lips 36 along its opposite side edges for engaging the enclosed rods 26 for forcing them downward during the secur'ement of the clamping plate 3ft to the plate element 38. This see curement of clamping plate 34 may be accomplished in any suitable manner, as by the wing nuts 38 on screws 4% which latter may be xed to plate element 350,. as in Fig. 6, and extend loosely through holes in clamping plateA 34. Conveniently, the clamping plate 34 may have a socket member 42 thereon for reception of a handle 44 to which the socket. member may be secured in any suitable manner, as by being. of split conl struction with projecting spaced ears: 4B by which the socket walls may be closed upon the handle 32 ofl plate member 30` 'are effectively enclosedand protected against contact. with a. surface along which. the sponge II] is being wiped. The sponge itself projects a little beyond the fabricl member I2 at both sides and. both ends of the: mop- When an end. of the sponge is: pressed to cover and protect the end edge of plate element 30, where it extends between the plate flanges, as seen at 52 in Fig. 2. The ends of the flanges are covered by the stitched infolded end portions of the two thicknesses of fabric between which the main extents of the flanges are enclosed. Hence, no metal or other scratching or marring element of the mop can come in contact with any surface along whichV the mop is being moved. Actually, when the sponge is secured to its backing plate, four double thicknesses of the fabric I4 are relatively closely associated in projecting relation to each end of each iiange of the backing plate, as best seen in the end views of Figs. 1 and 7 wherein each portion of the fabric between adjacent lines is a folded double-thick edge due to the infolded end margin I6 and the infolded side margins i8, 20, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. In Fig. 5, the fabric between adjacent parallel lines is folded fabric of two thicknesses of the fabric sheet. These fourfold projecting portions of the fabric constitute cushioning bumpers at the opposite ends of the mop for resiliently and harmlessly and noiselessly engaging mop-boards', walls or furniture, as compared with the prior harmful and noisy engagements of solid parts of the prior mops under similar conditions.

It should be noted also that each fold of the fabric secured by the stitches 28 constitutes a yieldable bumper rib projecting outwardly from and extending along each of the covered flanges of the backing plate. If the sponge yields in A* use, or shrinks, to the outer edge of one of these side bumper folds, the folded fabric bead yieldthat sponges Ic will be quicklyv interchangeable.

against a surface, the sponge will Vyield and; the

extra Iengthof the fabric member i2will.r 'yield Figs. 7, 8 and 10 illustrate a modied form of mop, or comparable cleaning device, wherein the fabric member I2 may be substantially the same as in the Figs. l-ir form, but the sponge I0 is stitched at 54 to the fabric member I-2 along both sides of the member I2. This stitching preferably will be in addition to a cement securement of the sponge to member I2 although the stitching alone in some cases may be adequate.

The clamping plate 34 of the Figs. 7, 8 and l0 form requires'but a single wing nut 38 and screw 40 for securing it in place on a plate element 30" which may be in all respects the. same as plate element 30 excepting that the edges of the side flanges 32 of plate element 30 are not turned over upon themselves, it being assumed that flanges 32 will have adequate inherent rigidity without any stiifening due to a turnedover edge. The socket member 42 is integral with clamping plate -34, it being represented as formed from a sheetl of metal with opposed edges turned inward to provide a key 58 for slidably engaging in a longitudinal slot 60 in a handle 44. A set screw 62, or the like, may secure the handle against pulling out of the socket member.

While the sponge I0 or I8' ordinarily is adequate for effectively cleaning floors and walls, it sometimes is desirable to apply a greater scrubbing force to particular regions than can be applied with a sponge. For this purpose, a bristlebrush attachment is shown in Fig. 10, clamped in place by the same wing nut 38 which secures the clamping plate 34. The brush 64 projects outward a little beyond the plane of one side of the sponge l0', generally opposite the socket member 42', and may have any desired length less than the'length of the plate elements ,'30. Its mounting bracket will have a foot part 66 for resting on the clamping plate 34', and an upstanding part 68 fitting snugly against a lip 36 of the clamping plate 34', whereby the single wing nut securement can clamp it securely in place. Obviously, a similar bristle-brush attachment may be mounted on the mop of the Figs. 1-6 form, in which case the mounting bracket would have spaced foot portions for clamping engagement by the two wing nuts 38.

If desired, a conventional squeegee device for wiping windows may be mounted on the mop in place of the brush 54, by means of a bracket with foot parts 66 similar to the bracket as illustrated for the brush.

While I have shown Iand described specific embodiments of my invention. which presently appear to be preferred embodiments, various modications will be obvious, and it is intended that the patent shall cover, by suitable expression in the appended claims, whatever features of patentable novelty exist in the invention disclosed.

I claim as my invention:

1.3 In a mop, a generally rectangular cleaning element, a flexible sheet member secured to the upper surface of sai-d cleaning element and having area in its secured operative position slightly less than that of the top surface of the cleaning element, whereby the cleaning element extends beyond the iiexible sheet member at all four edges of the latter, said' flexible sheet member being folded to provide plural thickness flap portions at each of its two opposite side edges, and each said flap portion having a beaded longitudinal edge and having its plural thicknesses stitched together at its opposite ends, a rigid backing-plate element engaging the flexible sheet member between said flap portions and terminating short of the opposite ends of said flexible sheet member, said backing-plate elementhaving two upstanding side anges and each said flange being inserted between said plural thicknesses of a said flap portion with said end stitches of the flap portion restraining relative longitudinal movement between the flange and the flap portion, said beaded edges of the flap portions being turned inward over said flanges, and handle mounting means removably engaging generally flatwise against a central portion of said backingplate element and holding said beaded edges of the flap portions in their positions turned inward over said anges.

2. In a mop, a cleaning element, a flexible 'sheet member secured to the cleaning element flange being inserted between said plurality ofY thicknesses of a said flap portion and having longitudinal extent therebetween approximately equal to the length of the flap portion between said stitched ends thereof, said beaded edges of said flap portions being turned inward over said rigid flanges of the backing-plate element, clamping means arranged generally atwise against said backing-plate element at a location centrally between the ends of said element and between said inwardly turned beaded edges of said flap portions, said clamping means having portions outward from said backing-plate element engaging said beaded edges of the ap portions and holding them in their positions turned inward over said rigid flanges, and a handle projecting from said clamping means.

3. In a mop, a sponge constituting a cleaning element, a flexible sheet member secured to a surface of the sponge and having ap portions extending along opposite side margins thereof, each said iiap portion having two thicknesses of the sheet material therein throughout the major part of the extent of the flap portion and having at least two thicknesses of the sheet material at the opposite ends of the iiap portion, said sheet material being folded upon itself along the base of each said ap and the two thicknesses or" the sheet material along the foided edge being stitched together inward of the folded edge and along the said base of the ap whereby the said folded edge constitutes a buffer outward of and along the base of the flap, means securing together the thicknesses of sheet material in each rlap portion across the opposite ends of each flap portion and leaving an edge of one thickness or" sheet material free of the adjacent thickness of sheet material along said major part of the extent of each flap portion, a rigid backing-plate element engaging said flexible sheet member between said ap portions and having upstanding parallel flanges along the opposite sides of the backing-plate element, each said flange being inserted between the said two thicknesses of sheet material of a said iiap portion at the said major part of the extent of the ilap portion, each said nap portion having width substantially greater than the height of the inserted plate 'flange whereby a substantial excess of flap portion is available and turnedV inward over the plate flange, said backing-plate element and its flanges having length substantially less than the length ofvsaid flexible sheet member and its flap portions whereby said sheet member projects appreciably beyond the ends of the backing-plate element, and a plurality of thicknesses of the sheet material are associated together at each end of each said turned-inward flap portion in projecting relation to the ends of each said plate flange, whereby said projecting edges constitute yieldable bumpers at the ends of the mop, and clamping means on said backing-plate element for engaging and securing said inwardly turned excess of each said iiap portion in'its inwardly turned position.

4. In a mop, a sponge constituting a cleaning element, a iiexible sheet member secured to a generally flat surface of the sponge, a rigid generally rectangular backing-plate element engaging said exible sheet member and having generally parallel upstanding flanges extending along two opposite sides thereof, said sheet member projecting beyond 4the backing-plate member at its said two opposite sides and at its opposite ends, and the sheet material of said sheet .member being folded upon itself along each said projecting portion thereof, and thev thicknesses' of. the sheet material at each fold being stitched to gether along and inward ofv the folded edge' whereby eaehi said stitched fold constitutes' a resilient' bumper projecting beyond and entendd ingf along each side and each` end of. said baokingplate elementJ said sheet member having two flapsl of iiexible sheet material: extending alo-ng the opposite sides thereof, each said flap having a; pocket therein extending longitudinally along' the inner side of the nap and open toward the base of the han, and each said flap having a substantial longitudinal portion extending along. the margin4 of. the free longitudinal edge of. thei nap and outward of the. said' pocket, a said flange of the backing. plate: ele-ment being inserte'di into each; said nap pocket, and said substantial longitudinal marginal portions of the naps which are outward of the flap' pockets being turned inward over' the iianges of the plate with the flap material at the ends o1^ the i-laps projecting as resil ient bumpers beyond' the ends of the plate'anges, and` clamping means aetween the flanges of the backing-plate element engaging said substantial longitudinal marginal portions of the naps which are turned inward over the plate flanges and se'- curng them in their inward-turned positions.

5. In a mop,Y a sponge oonstituting a cleaning element, a flexible sheet member secured to a surface of the sponge and having nap portions extending along opposite side margins thereof, each said ap portion having two thioknesses o1". the sheet material therein throughout the major part of the extent of the flap portion and having at least two thicknesses of the sheet material at the opposite ends of the iiap portion, said sheet material being folded upon itself along the base of each said nap and the two thicknesses oi the sheet materia?. along the folded edge being stitched together inward ofv the folded edge and along the said base of the nap whereby the said folded edge constitutesy a buffer outward of and along the base oi the fia-p, means seouring together the thicknesses oi sheet material in each ap portion aorossthe opposite ends of. eaoh iiap portion and leaving an edge of one thickness of sheet material free of the adjacent thickness of sheet material along said major part of the extent` of. each flap portion, a rigid backing-plate element engaging said flexiblesneet member between sai'd flap portions and having upstandi'ng parallc-z'lI hang-es along the opposite Sides of the baoking'eplate element', eac'h said flange being ifnsertedbetween thel` said two thicknesses of sheet material of a said flap portion at the said' major part of' the' extent of the flap portion, each said ap portion having width substantially greater than the height of the inserted plate ialng'e`A whereby a s'u-iistantialv excess? of flap portion is avail-ableand turned inward over the-plate Harige,- mas providing a Substantial bea-d' li and 'Xe tending longitudinally of eaeh said inward turned excess of iiapportion, said backing-plate ele'- ment' and its Han-ges having length substantially less" thanz the length O'f Said eXibIe Sheet' mme ber and its flap portions'where'by said' sheetlniember projects appreoiably beyond the ends' of the backing-plate element, and a plurality of think nesses oi the sheet material are as'soeiatd together at' eaeh end of' each Said? turned-inward fia-p portion in projecting relation to the ends o'iI eaen said platenange, proiieeting edges constitute yieldabler buinpe'r's at the ends of the mop, and clamping said bankingplate element for engaging said longitudinal beads on the said inwardly turned excesses of the ap portions in their inwardly turnedpositions,

IDA J. NICOLI'.

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